Research is based on the amount of times a stage is cleared in the story or
training modes. Although you can do this stage-farming trick with any stage, the
easiest (and fastest) one is the 2nd training stage.

After you escape Japan with (or without) Admiral Tsukagi, you can speedily
research your tech tree by repeatedly finishing that 2nd training stage with
a fast (60 knots or better) ship, since you only need to destroy the 3 radar
stations and escape to the south map.

Alternatively, if you're inclined for even faster finishes, you can repeatedly
destroy the Archeopteryx with a ship completely devoted to anti-air combat on
automatic mode (on Very Easy or Easy). You can even skip picking up the parts
from the boss and withdraw from combat immediately after the boss is destroyed.

When you want to design a ship, see if you can find it in auto design blue prints first and then modify it. that's what I did to build Yamato class battleship from omi type. or if you want to free build ships, try to make it so your modifications are cool and powerful. try your own designs out! don't depend on the military's designs. happy cruiser crushing!:-D. latter!

Getting the same stuff over and over again? always being driven mad? well no more! with the new difficulty strategy, you can get new stuff like never before! all you need to do is change the difficulty, and you'll be able to create bigger and better ships! NEW! from wolffepack6283!

If stuck in a tight spot, follow the way of captain Avatar from star blazers. "he's a fine leader, he knows what must be, done and even if he has to pay a price he does, it and he doesn't blame others, he just goes on". do the same